Below is a piece I wrote a few weeks back and finally put it up after viewing the above clip that shared the same views of mine. Live and enjoy life, and don't disturb your body unnecessary when it is taking care of itself and you.
When Healthier SG was launched in 2023, Mr Sebastian Lee signed up with a general practitioner near his home after seeing advertisements for the health campaign.
While the subsidies and free check-ups drew him in, little did Mr Lee know that this would save his life.
Earlier this year, the 71-year-old retiree found out through a screening under Healthier SG that he had high levels of a protein produced by the prostate gland known as prostate-specific antigens.
After further checks in April this year, he learnt that he had muscle-invasive bladder cancer, believed to be either stage two or three. The tumour was removed on April 22.
Today, doctors are still deciding if he will require chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
“If I had not gone for the health examination, I would not have found out,” said Mr Lee.
“Now that I know I have muscle-invasive bladder cancer, I can seek proper health treatment as recommended by the doctors.” Lorraine Lee CNA
The above is from an article in CNA about Heathier SG and the promise of better health for those above 40. I am 75 going 76 and would like to share some of my thinking about healthy living and how it would affect how long one would live. I am not a medical professional and what I am going to say is just a personal opinion from a layman. Do not take what I say as medical advice.
One thing that struck me about health and living longer is that many believed that there is a direct relationship, ie the healthier you are, the longer you live. The facts are contrary to this belief. There are many with serious illnesses, incapacitated, bedridden, but just would not die even in their 80s and 90s. There are many healthy and fit younger people that died suddenly. In my view, how long a person lives is not directly related to his health. Good health means a person can have a high quality of life while he is alive. It doesn't guarantee he will live longer.
Another point I would like to make is that our body will degenerate and all the parts would gradually age and die. This is nature and the process is slow and gradual. Anyone 60 and above, or even younger, would experience ageing of cells and organs. I can guarantee that if I go for an Xray, CT scan, MRI or a full checkup, many parts of my organs are going to show signs of ageing and dying. I believe that if there is no pain or discomfort, it is better to let the ageing process takes its natural path, gradually. If your parts are not ageing and dying, you are not human. But if there are pains and discomfort, then better go see a doctor.
I choose not to go for a medical checkup because my body is functioning normally for my age. The last medical checkup I did was on my ROD from Reservist. That was not really a thorough checkup but good enough for me. I had a bit of gout problem on my toe and the doctor was very persistent to the point of irritating that I should go for a thorough check up. He was annoyed that I refused to do so. By the way, my gout condition has disappeared with a little care with my diet. I am still competing in the 100m sprint for seniors. The most important things, I can eat, sleep, pee and shit normally.
What is likely to happen if I go for a full medical checkup is that I will be presented with a list of all the ageing parts in the body, little polyps here and there, dead tissues, mostly benign, not malignant. At this age, there will be many dead spots all over for sure. But if they are not affecting my daily activities, no pain and discomfort, why would I want to poke at them, or even worse, go and cut it up? In my view, some medical views also agree, that poking at benign growth or tissues could cause it to break out and spread and become malignant. The above clip discussed about the risks of doing an ops or some professional procedures.
I choose to let the body adjust by itself. The body is supposed to take care of itself, to heal itself, in the best way possible. If I can do all the physical activities normally, I am very happy and satisfied. Why spend more money and risk getting into more trouble when I can live normally? Why go for a checkup and be frightened by all the spots in the body and starts to worry about this and that? Sure, the ageing parts would go on ageing and soon I will die like everyone else. Touch wood, I could go on for a few more years living normally before ageing takes its natural course. We will all die sooner or later.
One thing for sure, your health does not determine how long you live but how well you live. Take care of your health, do some exercises within the limits of your body conditions. Don't overindulge in anything, in exercises or in eating, drinking or merry making. Moderation is everything.
3 comments:
Five years ago, after a fall while taking a bath, with bleeding from a deep cut on the forehead, I was hospitalized after being stitched up. Upon discharge, I was asked to go for a follow up check that subsequently revealed elevated PSA readings. Fear of prostate cancer gave me much unease. Subsequent follow up routine check-up quarterly, then half yearly saw the readings fluctuating up and down over those following five years. Later, my condition, at my age, was said to be stable and not needing any further medical supervision.
I believe more in fate. Life can be cut short no matter how healthy one may appear to be. Some diseases can manifest itself without the person being aware, like cancer. I take life as it comes. I am now 80 years old. At my age, every month that I can stay alive is a bonus. When I was in my seventies, I told myself that every year that I managed to stay alive is a bonus.
EXCELLENT article. Agree with you 100%. I'm 70 years old and I just let things run its natural course. If you go see a doctor, they'll say everything is wrong and put you on a zillion drugs for life. Western medicine doesn't address the problem. It just wants to hook you on to one of their expensive drugs for life You end up paying for the yearly vacations of the doctor who are brainwashed to prescribe it or the western drug company executives. You cannot stop nature taking its course. If you try you'll LOSE.
Another observation is doctors are chained to procedures specified by the yankee FDA or other governing body and if they don't follow, they might end up being sued for malpractice. Just look at the so called standard for normal blood pressure. Today it's some ridiculous low number, which means doctors are bound by procedure to prescribe you a drug, which you may have to take for the rest of your life. Then they've invented good and bad cholesterol. The list never ends.
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